Boy or girl?

I'm sure that sometime in your life someone has asked if you LIKE being a girl or if you'd rather be a boy. When you were younger you might have said a boy in order to have strength dominance over your siblings or to be able to play with the boys at recess. But what is your answer now?

The truth is I just love being a girl. There are so many reasons such as girl talk, fashion, getting all dolled up, GNO's, enjoying being by a man's side, being caring and nurturing, etc etc.

When you do a little of this...and you're a boy....

Nobody cares! "Oh you are a boy, you should be good at that stuff. Yea, he's ok."

But as a girl you get back to the boat and you get "Wow, you are good! That was awesome for a girl!" I don't even mind that statement! "For a girl..." Yes we aren't as physically strong as boys and we have our own strengths and we embrace them!

So I like being a girl because I like being praised? Yep! just kidding just kidding...sorta :)
You can play tennis in flip flops against a boy and have them say after "I don't even care that I got beat by a girl now after seeing those toes!" Hey, us girls have a competitive edge in us also!

We get to REAP the benefits of chivalry. Lindy and I got to board and ski before everyone else. Thanks for being so nice to us! I know some people think that girls get away with murder with the turn of a sweet smile...but we really appreciate it!

We get taken on scooter rides and get to wear flowers in our hair while the men roll their sleeves up to be bad...or to not get a farmers tan....I dunno.

We get chucked high in pool basket toss parties!
And last but not least we get to do silly things like this and people just say "oh cute" or "Oh that's funny." Where as guys doing this might get "Oh REEEAL cool. That's immature." Who knows though. It probably depends on the crowd you are in.
I got a book this year for mother's day called "The remarkable soul of a woman". The title says it all before even getting into it. We'll delve into that another day. As for now....enjoy being a woman!

Run like a GIRL!!

Hey there...get off of my WASATCH BACK!! Who would I have rather ran the Wasatch Back with than my mission companion VICKI TRACY!!!

So the Wasatch back is a relay race from Logan to Park City. 12 girls were on my team and 6 in each van. You each run 3 legs of the race and eventually get to Park City. It was a blast!

Yes people, this IS my blanket from 7th grade! You know I do the honors! It's the tightest thing ever! :)
Our team was called RUN LIKE A GIRL! And we did! Of course I drew these running stick figure ladies on the back. It was a dream!
There were some way funny decorated vans and people dressed up in costumes running. Great entertainment!
Here's my teammates before we started.
Ready. Set. GO!
"JUA JUAN. GENARO GENARO!" I was shouting out mission memories to Trace to get her all pumped up for her runs. It was the smartest plan ever!
This girl is so rad. You know she recently shaved her head and donated it to cancer.

We had BEAUTIFUL scenery to run in....and great cheerleaders! I loved this lady just sittin out watchin the runners go by :)

What do you do when you are not running? Chase after your runners and give them some H20 relief!
My first run was way hard. 12:00 pm in the blazing hot, 7.5 miles on a dirt road up hill. I felt like ROCKY...or GI Jane or something.
My teammates soaked in a local river while I ran. Smart!
I loved this girl. She's from Sweden and served her mission at temple square. She is awesome.
Doin the work!!
When we all completed our first legs the other van takes over and you have about 3 hours to chill. We jumped right into Pine View reservoir and laid out. It was a dream!
And then there are the night runs. Mine was about 10:30 at night and then we had one more runner and then got to go sleep for about 2 hours outside or in the van. When you wake up you are for sure thinking, "What was I thinking?"
3rd run was hot and hilly again. Dead tired!

But it was nothin compared to VT's run. She ran Mt. Everest that day. Last run 8 miles uphill. She did it like a champ. So proud of her!

So you KNOW we threw her a dance party! Run like a girl! Go T-bones! "Don't cha wish your girlfriend was HOT like me? " :)

Hand off, One, Two...
I ran past this van with "HUGHES CONSTRUCTION" on it. I yelled out while running "I'm a Hughes!" Later I found these guys and told them how tons of people ask me if I am part of the 'Hughes Construction'. Well, I am now!
And then there were the guys in speedos! oh yes they were. oh boy. I later found out that they are the UCLA men's running team. They got like 4th place. Good times!
Gotta throw in a little Bikram yoga for the day.
And some cheer moves! Go Aggies!

We finally got to the finish line!

Met up with Alana who also ran it with her work friends. Go team Mona Vie!


We loved the finish line crew awaiting us!


I will do the honors!

Of COURSE we went and played tennis for two hours after the race. Oh man...I was dead!

Stien Erikson's lodge makes a mean meal and the scenery can't be beat! Overall I loved this adventure of running, meeting new people, working hard, relaxing and doing something out of your comfort zone. Hope you all had a great Father's day!

Happy 40th Birthday Brian

Happy birthday to my awesome brother Brian who has influenced my life in so many ways!

As my older brother, Brian:

1-Made me stay out for hours throwing a football until I could throw a spiral (to eventually impress the boys I guess)

2-Took my friends and I in our huge green van for ice cream..playing 'sharp turn' the whole way there and back!

3-Tickled me and tortured me growing up which eventually made me a tough girl in fighting back (not to mention buttercups which I thought we PEANUT butter cups every time...good one!)

4-Brought me on dates with him in high school and let me hang with all his 'cool' Skyline football buddies.

5-Gives his all in everything he does. Captain of the Skyline football team, AP on his mission in Japan, played football at Ricks and BYU...beating Notre Dame on their own field! Paid for his own college (scholarships and selling his baseball cards!), married in the temple to the most AMAZING girl and best friend of mine, got his MBA at BYU, has a challenging job as a the medical device sales manager over New England, has 4 awesome kids that I love, ran the Boston marathon and a 1/2 marathon with me in NH.....I could keep going!!

6-Got me on my mission- It all started with a walk at Newport beach. Angela and Brian commitment patterned me into getting my mission papers. The day I was to open my call Brian took me in a room and we talked for two hours about how this would be an amazing chapter in my life and when else can I give my all to the Lord? I was stoked after the talk and got my call to CHILE!! Loving life (I was at their house when I opened it...Christmas eve!)

7-Honors his priesthood- I always tell this story of how I was out to visit in NH and all the kids were throwing up all night. Every time one threw up, he would get up, put his shirt and tie on and give them a blessing. Noah said the next morning " I was so sick and then after dad's blessing, I didn't throw up one more time!"

8-Has bedtime scriptures in "the king". All the kids crawl in the king size bed for scripture time at night. Brian asks them questions about what they are reading. Love it!

9-Still calls and texts me funny things "So... how are you feeling today?" (hand on the hip)

10-Just today I talked to him and he says "Let me give you some brotherly advice...." I love his brotherly advice. He has always watched out for me as his little sis.

I'll stop at an even ten! Have a great birthday you old man!!!!!

Three letters: B F F!!!

I LOVE my BFFFFFF!!!!! We had the delight the other night of having dinner and seeing Rosie and Bart's new house. It is amazing and modern and I loved it. Of course we took a group photo....but something was different this night. We only took one photo. Oh boy, maybe we should go back to the days of taking a zillion retakes! I think my favorite is Hallie's face in the front...or is it Bart's 'mustache'? AAhh!!

I held sweet baby Cole all night and it was a dream! Thanks Kels :)
And of COURSE we busted out some cheer moves. WJH let's go!!!
Oh don't worry, I can hurkey with a baby in hand..no problem.
They can hurkey too. You know they can!
BEST FRIENDS FOR LIFE!